The Abandoned Lady Lives in a Dollhouse - Chapter 37

When the crown prince tried to take the princess of the Kingdom of Darnan by force, he was on his own path to destruction as expected. The reason he hadn’t fallen from grace was because of Juno.

She couldn’t contain her anger and said sarcastically, “Are you afraid of having to break the engagement? I wish you took better care of your children.”

The crown prince was an illegitimate son of the emperor. Although he was the emperor’s first son, his mother was neither the empress nor the courtesan. His mother was a maid who died while giving birth to him, and the crown prince himself lacked any sort of skill. All he has is the emperor’s love.

Yet the emperor’s affection was strong. He married the daughter of Duke Gelford, who was known as the empire’s Pillar of Strength, and made her the empress. Yet the position of crown prince wasn’t given to the son he had with the empress.

“You must not be aware how the other prince is a much better option,” Juno said.

His legitimate child’s power was in part his mother’s, but he also was a capable person. The grandson of Duke Gelford would make a better emperor than the idiot crown prince. Do you truly believe the crown prince, who even in his 40s, needs the help of his father, will be able to lead the empire?

“Anton will be the next emperor.”

“…”

Love blinded the emperor and made him a fool, just like her father. Juno was sick of it. The moment her father came to mind, her alliance with the emperor was over. It was going to end anyway. She had no intention of doing more work until Jupiter woke up; however, she was at her limit. I’ve had it for eight years.

Anton. Only Jupiter could decide what happened to him.

The emperor, unaware of Juno’s thoughts, said, “Think about it, then send me a letter.”

“…”

There was nothing to think about. Juno stormed out of the room. It was time to cut ties.

***

After meeting the emperor, Juno sat in a dark room of the mansion while waiting for a guest to arrive. The emperor put pressure on Juno for his personal gain. As well as Anton.

Juno no longer wanted to do anything for Anton, so she sent letters to certain people she had met over the years.

When she heard a knock on the door, Juno looked up. “Come in.”

A tall, rather plain-looking man with a muscular physique entered the room. He had a nervous look on his face when he made eye contact with Juno.

“Hello, Your Highness,” she greeted.

“Countess Juno Sergien.”

He was Argos Peloponnese, one of the empire’s princes, who secretly came to visit her late at night.

He’s a good candidate for the throne. Argo Peloponnese, the son of the empress, also had Duke Gelford’s backing. Not only was his background great, but so were his skills. The crown prince was no match for him.

“Why did you want to meet with me?” the prince asked.

Juno smiled, hiding her anger against the emperor and the crown prince. Let’s not have this conversation go to waste. After years of observation, Juno knew what Prince Argos was like. But there’s something I still need to check.

What Juno needed was Argos’s willingness to ascend the throne even if he had to distance himself from the emperor and kill the crown prince.

“Do you want to be emperor?” Juno said.

Argos hesitated before saying, “…I’m not the crown prince.”

“Your Highness, I asked if you wanted to be the emperor.”

“…Does this have to do with your meeting with my father today?”

“That’s right.”

Argos had a wary look. It was clear he didn’t know what was on Juno’s mind.

“My answer will change the situation,” he said.

“Yes.”

Argos nodded immediately. “I want to be emperor.”

“All right, Your Highness, I’ll make you the emperor.”

“…Can I trust you?”

Juno liked those who were capable, and she needed an emperor who’d listen to her. It’s not like him to be unaware of how much I’ve endured.

Juno raised the corners of her mouth. “You have no choice.”

“…”

Argos knew why he wasn’t the crown prince; the emperor loved Anton. The emperor’s love was so great because of the friendly relationship between the emperor and Juno. Yet Juno was throwing away the emperor and trying to join hands with him. You’ll see what a great opportunity this is.

She decided to give him a hint. “My half-sister will be living with me soon.”

“…And?”

“Find out who her father is, then we’ll meet again.”

“Is this a test?”

Juno smiled. Argos, who had been silent, nodded with a determined expression and left. Then, Peter entered the room and sat down in front of her.

“It will be on a large scale,” he said.

“Were you also thinking about it?”

Ten years after becoming an alchemist, Juno was no longer a woman who followed others, but someone with the power to turn the world upside down. Removing the emperor and his successor was child’s play to her.

Peter grinned. “I’ve been waiting for a long time.” He seemed proud of her and proud of himself. He laughed. “Well done. You don’t need to show mercy to those who aren’t aware. The higher the position they’re in, the greater the fall.”

Juno nodded. As Peter said, if one couldn’t get along with the person at the top, that person had to go. Only then will a proper hierarchy be maintained.

That was the power of the alchemist, Juno Sergien.

***

Juno was reading through the research journal as she noticed John approach her.

“My lady, I have been informed that the child will be here soon.”

“Really?”

After meeting with Prince Argos, Juno told the emperor she was willing to accept the girl. The emperor was very pleased, saying he’d give Juno a big reward.

Juno, of course, refused. She would get her own reward: the throne.

“Master said he wouldn’t leave the workshop in any case, but what about Hebe?”

It was very inconvenient to have someone else live with Juno and the dolls. After thinking about it, Juno said, “He’s my son.”

“What?”

“He can be my son.”

“But…”

Juno always treated Hebe like her own child. After meeting Juno, Hebe became a cheerful, charming person. Even if that weren’t the case, Juno fixed and raised him for the past ten years. If she couldn’t be considered his parent at this point, then what was a parent supposed to be?

“What’s wrong? No one would think it’s strange that I have a child when I’m letting my half-sister live with me.”

She couldn’t reveal Hebe was a doll because she didn’t know what kind of rumors would spread; however, revealing Hebe as her child would get rid of the men who were troubling her. They’ll be very annoyed.

Few men tried to ask for her hand in marriage because of her position, but there were quite a few who flirted with Juno. The wealth of House Sergien and her skills as an alchemist, her being well-known throughout the entire continent, and even if she didn’t say it herself… I’m very pretty.

Of course, many people had ill intentions. If she said she had a child, the people who dream of marrying her will disappear. Let’s tell everyone I had a child. Juno was satisfied with her choice.

“I understand,” John said.

“I’ll give you some freedom, but the story has to be believable.”

“Understood.”

“Also make sure my half-sister never goes to the third floor.”

The third floor contained a lot of personal things, including the workshop, Juno’s and Peter’s rooms, the room used by Hebe and John, and Jupiter’s room. Peter might be uncomfortable, though…

John and Hebe look like humans, but Peter was another story. He was larger than humans, so it was impossible to say he was one. No matter how long Peter was in the workshop, doing it voluntarily and involuntarily were two different things.

“Tell me when she gets here,” Juno said.

John nodded before leaving the workshop. Then, Hebe appeared.

“My lady!”

The timing was good. Juno reached out to Hebe as he ran toward her. “Hebe, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

Smiling, Juno held his hand. “Address me as Mother from now on.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t want her to know you’re a doll.”

Hebe stopped smiling. Hesitantly, he asked, “…Can I?”

“Why not?” She didn’t see what the problem was.

“I’m not your actual child.”

However, Juno saw his mouth twitch. “What do you mean? I dress you, feed you, and raised you. Come on, say it. Mother.”

“…Mother.”

Juno poked Hebe’s cheek and laughed. “Good. Call me Mother from now on, Hebe.”

“Okay!”

Hebe smiled beautifully and gave Juno a big hug. Juno laughed as she hugged him tightly.